MILTON, Fla. (WALA) – A Santa Rosa County mother is charged with second-degree murder after deputies found her 6-year-old daughter stabbed to death inside their home near Milton, according to investigators.

Deputies responded to a home on Nowling Drive around midnight and found Valerie Oliva deceased. Her mother, April Oliva, was found lying next to the child with cut wounds on her body. Chief Deputy Randy Tift said April Oliva’s wounds were self-inflicted and that she is in stable condition.

“She had self-inflicted wounds on herself, and the six-year-old was determined to be deceased as a result of multiple knife stab wounds,” Tift said.

The arrest report states Valerie was stabbed more than 20 times. A kitchen knife was found in the dining room, according to investigators.

Records show April Oliva called a relative around midnight, making confusing statements and talking about “evil spirits.” A concerned family member sent another relative to the home to check on her. That relative could not get inside at first but heard April Oliva yelling. When he entered the home and found the scene, he called 911, according to the report.

Valerie’s father was out of town for work at the time of the incident, and no one else was home, records show.

“This is a horrific incident,” Tifft said.

Tifft said the sheriff’s office’s thoughts and prayers are with Valerie’s family. He said the case has been deeply disturbing not only for her loved ones, but also for the deputies and investigators who responded to the scene.